U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he will substantially raise tariffs on goods from India over its purchases of Russian oil.
"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
India slams 'unjustified' criticism
Meanwhile, India has rejected the "unjustified and unreasonable targeting" of the nation for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict.
Statement by Official Spokesperson
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 4, 2025
https://t.co/O2hJTOZBby pic.twitter.com/RTQ2beJC0W
"Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
In the statement, the spokesperson noted that India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. "The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability," he said.
Furthermore, Jaiswal said, India's imports are meant to ensure "predictable and affordable energy costs" to the Indian consumer.
"However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion," he claimed.
Pointing out the EU and US trade with Russia, he said Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment.
"Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals," he added.
